The Project Gutenberg EBook of An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, Vol. 2, by David Collins This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Title: An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, Vol. 2 An Account Of The English Colony In New South Wales, From Its First Settlement In 1788, To August 1801: With Remarks On The Dispositions, Customs, Manners, Etc. Of The Native Inhabitants Of That Country. To Which Are Added, Some Particulars Of New Zealand; Compiled, By Permission, From The Mss. Of Lieutenant-Governor King; And An Account Of The Voyage Performed By Captain Flinders And Mr. Bass. Author: David Collins Release Date: June 21, 2004 [EBook #12668] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NEW SOUTH WALES, VOL. 2 ***
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AN ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY IN NEW SOUTH WALES: FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT IN 1788, TO AUGUST 1801: WITH REMARKS ON THE DISPOSITIONS, CUSTOMS, MANNERS, etc. OF THE NATIVE INHABITANTS OF THAT COUNTRY. TO WHICH ARE ADDED, SOME PARTICULARS OF NEW ZEALAND; COMPILED, BY PERMISSION, FROM THE MSS. OF LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR KING. AND AN ACCOUNT OF THE VOYAGE PERFORMED BY CAPTAIN FLINDERS AND MR. BASS; BY WHICH THE EXISTENCE OF A STRAIT SEPARATING VAN DIEMAN'S LAND FROM THE CONTINENT OF NEW HOLLAND WAS ASCERTAINED. ASBSTRACTED FROM THE JOURNAL OF MR. BASS. By LIEUTENANT-COLONEL COLLINS, OF THE ROYAL MARINES,
LATE JUDGE ADVOCATE AND SECRETARY OF THE COLONY. ILLUSTRATED BY ENGRAVINGS.
VOLUME II.
Many might be saved who now suffer an ignominious and an early death; and many might be so much purified in the furnace of punishment and adversity, as to become the ornaments of that society of which they had formerly been the bane. The vices of mankind must frequently require the severity of justice; but a wise State will direct that severity to the greatest moral and political good. ANON.
LONDON:PRINTED BY A. STRAHAN, PRINTERS-STREET,
FOR T. CADELL JUN. AND W. DAVIES, IN THE STRAND. 1802.
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE ROBERT LORD HOBART His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the War Department, One of the Commissioners for the Affairs of India, etc. MY LORD, Feeling myself highly flattered by your permission to inscribe the following pages to your Lordship, I now humbly presume to offer them to your perusal. The colonists of New South Wales will feel with me, who must ever take an interest in the welfare of the settlement, a high degree of satisfaction at finding the conduct of their affairs placed under the direction of a nobleman who has dignified the amiable virtues of private life by the acquisition of those more splendid talents which characterise a consummate statesman; thus at once rendering himself the object of veneration and of gratitude to his country. Your Lordship's services in the several high and important situations which you have filled, are too generally known, and too well remembered, to make me apprehensive lest my humble tribute of applause should be mistaken for other than the genuine feelings of one proud of this opportunity to unite his voice with that of a grateful nation. The settlement whose annalist I have been has had much to struggle with. Its distance from the protecting wing of the parent government, and the unprecedented war which that government, has so long had to conduct, have very much repressed its energies, and detracted from its natural vigour. But, although the distance must ever remain an obstacle, yet now, that your Lordship can uninterruptedly afford a portion of your valuable time and great abilities to the consideration of its interests, it will, I trust, be found to correct its bad habits, and to maintain, with a degree of respectability, its place among the colonial dominions of our much beloved and most gracious Sovereign. That your Lordship may long be permitted to dispense blessings to New South Wales and other distant countries, and to assist, instruct, and adorn your own, is the ardent and anxious wish of him who has the honour to be, with every sentiment of respect,
MY LORD, Your Lordship's Most obedient, very humble, and devoted servant, DAVID COLLINS Beaumont Street, June 26, 1802
ADVERTISEMENT
London, 17th June 1802 The very flattering reception which my former Account of the English Colony in New South Wales experienced from a candid and liberal public, has induced me to continue my labours in the character of its historian; having been favoured with materials for this purpose, on the authenticity of which I can safely stake my credit. Should the reader feel wearied with the detail of crimes and their consequences, the fault lies not with me. I have only to regret that a soil of so much promise has not produced better fruit. Such as there was, I have diligently gathered; and have endeavoured to render it as palatable as the nature of it would allow me. When we reflect that the exotics with which this new plantation is supplied are chiefly the refuse of our domestic nurseries; and duly consider that, however beneficial the act of transplantation may finally be found, it must for a time retard the growth, and will generally protract the fruit for a season, however fertile the original stock, we ought, perhaps, considerably to moderate our expectations. By patient culture, skilfully directed, in a climate so propitious, and a soil so favourable, much may yet be effected: after experience shall have once thoroughly ascertained all the dangers and difficulties necessary to be surmounted, before most judicious cultivators can completely avail themselves of the many local advantages of which the situation is undoubtedly susceptible. To relieve the mind as much as possible from the contemplation of enormities, and the disgustingly wretched picture which vice must ever exhibit, I have not only interspersed a few notices of rare and curious objects in Natural History peculiar to the Australian regions; but have also inserted the two voyages which were made in the little sloop Norfolk, by Captain Flinders and Mr. Bass, in the order of time in which they occurred, instead of placing them in an Appendix. The Natives too have contributed to assist me in this part of my undertaking; and some additional light is thrown upon their peculiar manners and customs in the course of the work. It were to be wished, that they never had been seen in any other state than that which the subjoined view of them presents, in the happy and peaceable exercise of their freedom and amusements.
A scene by moonlight.
Chart of the three harbours of Botany Bay, Port Jackson and Broken Bay, showing the ground cultivated by the colonists, marking the late additions made thereto, and the country from the Cow Pasture plains in a direct line to the sea coast.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I Recapitulation A log prison begun Various impositions practised at the store October Regulations and proceedings of the governor A man found dead A woman murdered Discontents among the Irish, followed by an order Character of the settlers at the river Houses numbered at Sydney Bennillong claims protection from the governor Weather in October November Two victuallers arrive from England Constables elected The Francis returns from Norfolk Island Civil appointment A criminal court held Executions One man hung in chains Effect of this upon the natives Public works December Convicts secreted on board the Sylph Reflections A general muster Regulations A native child murdered Weather CHAPTER II The governor visits Richmond-Hill
His transactions there A stack of wheat burnt Sawyers punished Price of labour regulated General character of the settlers The clergyman's attention to the children Criminal court assembled Lawrence Davoran The governor goes to Botany Bay George's river Public works Lightning and its effects CHAPTER III The wind-mill tried A civil court assembled Difficulty respecting the convicts from Ireland The natives Some buildings begun Weather March Number of men not victualled by the Commissary, who had been convicts An extraordinary theft Court of criminal judicature twice held One man suffers death Price of labour fixed The natives attack the settlers Public works Weather CHAPTER IV Report revived of a white woman being with the natives A shoal seen Some civil regulations Natives troublesome The governor goes on an excursion Particulars thereof A valuable tree discovered Weather May The natives burn a house Consequences The Supply arrives from the Cape A ship wrecked to the southward Three of her people brought in by a fishing boat Particulars Two accidents The Britannia arrives from England Vessels and assistance sent to the wreck Public works Cordage wanted The Mercury sails June The Ganges arrives from Ireland Transactions Some runaways taken and brought to trial The Reliance arrives from the Cape A strange desertion Public works New gaol finished CHAPTER V The Francis returns from the wreck of the Sydney Cove The Eliza long-boat missing Gale of wind Cattle from the Cape landed Station altered Public works An officer dies Accident on board the Schooner
The ships sail for China Coal discovered Natives Bennillong Courts Of justice assembled The Supply condemned The Cumberland seized and carried off to sea Is pursued, but not retaken More coal found; and a new river The people left by Capt. Bampton at New Zealand arrive at Norfolk Is. Several runaway convicts landed there by the Britannia The Deptford arrives from Madras Excursion to the Cow-Pastures Walk from Mount Taurus to the sea coast Public works Weather CHAPTER VI Another boat seized and carried off Order in consequence The criminal court thrice assembled Particulars Three men stand in the pillory Perjury explained to the convicts Natives very troublesome; seize a boat Various works in hand An attempt to seize another boat frustrated Prospect of a fine harvest Wilson gives himself up Is made use of Two mares stolen The clergyman's servant attempts to rob him Information sent to India respecting the boats An amphibious animal discovered Description Accident Works Police Weather CHAPTER VII Bennillong and Cole-be Various particulars respecting the natives Ye-ra-ni-be killed A settler's house burnt through malice Schools at Sydney Two settlers drink for a wager The body of a soldier found Criminal court The Francis sails for the wreck Weather Houses burnt Public labour Harvest Account of live stock and ground in cultivation CHAPTER VIII Attempt of some Irish convicts to desert in search of a new settlement Some punished Steps taken to prevent future desertion A settler's boat stolen Particulars The Francis returns from the southward Conjectures as to a strait Natives A convict providentially saved Public works Weather
CHAPTER IX The Francis again sails for the wreck Bennillong and his wife Report respecting the wild cattle An anonymous writing found Account of a journey to the westward Description of a new bird A general muster Mr Bass returns from an excursion in an open boat to the southward Particulars of it Three Irishmen picked up Public works Weather in February CHAPTER X Pe-mul-wy Strange idea respecting him Civil court meets; nature of the business brought before it Advice of the governor to the settlers The Francis returns from Preservation Island A trusty person sent to look for a salt hill said to be to the westward The wild cattle seen A new animal, the Wombat, found; described Some Irish runaways give themselves up A seizure made of timber for government Transactions Weather April The criminal court meets Three men executed Reflections Accidents among the stock Discoveries prosecuted Settlers and their complaints An old woman accused of dreaming Works in hand Weather CHAPTER XI Some Irishmen providentially saved from perishing The Nautilus arrives from Otaheite Missionaries Order respecting the sawyers The Barwell arrives with convicts A judge-advocate sent out Information The Reliance and Schooner sail for Norfolk Island Information sent thither Natives Works and weather in May June Ground fixed on for the missionaries The Hunter arrives from Bengal Regulations The commander of the Sydney Cove dies A decked boat arrives from Norfolk Island Maize harvest completed Weather CHAPTER XII Three southern whalers arrive, and an American from the Isle of France A transport with female convicts arrives from England Reliance arrives from Norfolk Island Information John Raynor executed Profligacy of the female part of the settlement August Civil regulations
The Sabbath neglected Attendance enforced Two whalers arrive Public works A native girl killed Consequences An extraordinary custom among them September The Barwell sails for China, and the Hunter for New Zealand The bones of two horses found Whalers sail Public works Weather Fears for the approaching harvest CHAPTER XIII The Semiramis arrives from Rhode Island The church at Sydney burnt Reflections Some vessels sail; the Norfolk for Van Dieman's Land; The Francis for Norfolk Island Another fire in the town A ship arrives from the Cape with cattle Works in hand Bennillong The governor's steward destroys himself An order respecting the women A battery erected Weather State of the harvest Irish The Francis returns; and the Nautilus The Eliza from Sea Information Three deaths One good character recorded Disorders Public works Great heat Returns of stock, and land in cultivation CHAPTER XIV Certificates granted to convicts Reasons for so doing Unruly behaviour of the Irish Agricultural concerns look ill The Norfolk sloop returns from Van Dieman's Land Particulars Twofold Bay described The natives there Kent's Group Furneaux's Islands Preservation Island Curious petrifaction there Cape Barren Island The wombat described CHAPTER XV The Norfolk proceeds on her voyage The Swan Isles; why so named Waterhouse Isle Discover Port Dalrymple Account of the country within it Natural productions Animals Sagacity and numbers of the black swan Inhabitants; inferior to those of the continent Range of the thermometer Pass Table Cape
Circular head Three Hummock Island Albatross Island Hunter's Isles Proceed to the southward and westward CHAPTER XVI The Norfolk passes the strait Observations thereon Proceeds to the southward Passes the S. W. Cape; and S. Cape Remarks on the latter De Witt's Isles Storm Bay Passage Tasman's Head Fluted Cape Frederick Henry Bay Enter the Derwent river, first seen in the ship Duke, of Bengal Observations on the Derwent Some natives seen Particulars of one Venomous snake One destroys itself Comparison between New South Wales and Van Dieman's Land Arrive at Port Jackson Advantages of the strait CHAPTER XVII Transactions Information from Norfolk Island A burglary committed The criminal court assembled A man tried for killing a native Two men executed The public gaol burnt Observations Stills ordered to be seized Settlers, their profligacy A man found dead Great drought A flood at the river Two whalers arrive Conduct of the labouring convicts A seaman killed A woman murdered by her husband Natives A Spanish prize arrives Norfolk Island Resources in New South Wales Public works CHAPTER XVIII The Buffalo arrives from England, and brings cattle from the Cape A marine settler killed Natives A criminal court held Taylor executed Lowe punished A highway robbery Provisions in store Ration altered June, two whalers come in from sea Ideas of a whale-fishery Tempestuous weather Effects The Albion whaler arrives from England Her passage July, a missionary murdered The murderers tried and executed
Orders published State of the farms The Hillsborough arrives from England Mortality on board Public works CHAPTER XIX The governor visits the settlers upon George's river The Norfolk sloop returns from an excursion to the northward Account of her proceedings Enters Shoal Bay Particulars respecting it Description of a palm-nut tree Enters Glass-House Bay Lieutenant Flinders meets some natives Has an interview with them Particulars Point Skirmish Proceeds to a river in Glass-House Bay CHAPTER XX Further proceedings in Glass-House Bay Red Cliff point Nets of the natives Moreton Bay found to be an island The sloop prepared for an attack of the natives The Event Account of an island Enter Pumice-Stone river See some natives The leak in the sloop stopped Interviews with natives Mr. Flinders visits the Glass-House peaks Account of the country Return down the river Other interviews with natives Their manner of fishing Singing Dancing Other particulars of, and some conjectures respecting them Quit Pumice-Stone river, and Glass House Bay CHAPTER XXI The Norfolk proceeds to Hervey's Bay Some account of it Curlew Island She returns to Port Jackson Observations on the currents and tides along the coast A criminal court assembled Order respecting the issuing of government notes Public works September A ship arrives from America The Buffalo sails for the Cape The governor crosses the Nepean A calf killed October Convicts found on board the Hillsborough and Hunter The master of the Hunter tried A young ox stolen Ration reduced Price of Grain fixed CHAPTER XXII The Reliance sails for Norfolk Island The Walker arrives with Lieutenant-Colonel Paterson from England Dispatches received Orders respecting bread